Denver Does Terraces: Standing in Major League Soccer
In Chicago, we in Section 8 have two sections of Toyota Park designated for standing supporters, though they were not custom built for this purpose; they are, however, benches, so it’s easy enough to stand on top of them or in front of them. This has caused problems: they are obviously not built for people standing (and often jumping) on them, and for the first couple of seasons at Toyota Park, this caused enormous friction between the supporters and the stadium management as the backs of the benches would often break.
The solution, it turned out, was obvious (and cheaper in the long-run than replacing benches): reinforce the benches, and remove the backs. The former has been done for all of both sections, while the latter has been done for the first ten rows of both sections. But there are still problems with the benches when the sections are overcrowded (I’d estimate a good 1,500 folks were packed into sections with a capacity of around 1,100 at the last playoff game). It’s awesome we are allowed to stand, but the set-up isn’t ideal.
In Colorado, they are going further in their efforts to accommodate standing supporters. The temporary metal bleachers at the north end are being replaced with an actual terraced standing area designated for adult supporters — though no renderings have been released, the targeted date for completion is the home opener in a couple of months, coincidentally against the Chicago Fire.
The Rapids official site says:
In a move that will transform the way the world’s game is supported in the Rocky Mountain region, the Colorado Rapids announced today their plans for the creation of the new “Supporters Terrace” behind the north goal at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for 2010 and beyond.
Using the stadium’s unique design, this new Supporters Terrace will become an adult-oriented area designed to allow for the exuberance of the Rapids’ most passionate fans.
This move to create a new section of the stadium specifically to appeal to the Rapids’ adult demographic was conceptualized and created in conjunction with the Rapids’ existing supporters club leaders and will allow for their voices and energy to be felt in a whole new manner.
Season tickets in the supporters terrace are a highly reasonable $216. The Rapids’ front office has for some time had poor relations with its supporters’ groups, who hamstrung by these relations, have grown very slowly in their previous sliver in the corner of the stadium. And the rest of the stadium hasn’t exactly been packed out; the photo below handily illustrates both the area that will become the “terrace” and the emptiness of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, a gorgeous stadium opened in 2007 with a near 20,000 capacity that saw just a 12,331 average attendance for MLS games in 2009.
MLS has now put what it calls the “hardcore supporter” at the centre of its marketing plan, following the successes in Toronto and Seattle. This move by the Rapids front office should be seen in that light: it’s an effort to draw a line under previous failures, and offer a new way to entice supporters in, finally together in an end behind the goal they can stand in and not worry about offending nearby fans.
The Rapids press release goes on to say “Flags, banners, instruments, singing and other passionate support of the team at home games will all be encouraged, making the Supporters Terrace the place to be for Colorado’s most enthusiastic soccer fans.”
For years, fans around the league have had to fight for the rights to do all of that. Now finally, clubs are going out of their way to promote actitivities that were previously looked on as somehow subversive.
It will be interesting to see what this actual terrace looks like once its constructed (capacity, structure etc), and fascinating to see if it does spark more sales in the supporters’ section and a better atmosphere at the stadium.
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I would love to see this happen in Chicago.
If only Kroenke could do something about the atmosphere at Arsenal . . .
I’m moving to Boulder, CO in July and I will be a Rapids season ticket holder. I am so glad to hear of this. I currently live in Ohio, and while I try to make it to any Crew game I can, it is just too far to drive most of the time (2-2.5 hours one way). In Colorado, my apartment will be around 20 minutes from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (I can’t believe I just typed out that corporate plug, but I didn’t know what else to call it!).. I will be attending every game and loving it. It is just too bad I will be forced to adopt players like Conor Casey lol…
I don’t wanna sound like an ungrateful bastard, but i REALLY wish RBA had that right now. Hopefully they can fill that thing up and kill the dead atmosphere reputation that they have.
Matthew N: DSG for short. Or in a derogatory/humorous way (or not, depends on how you take it), The Dick.
I would love to see the Nordecke at Crew Stadium as a terrace.
Excellent move by the Rapids, possibly influenced by MLS relationship with the Bundesliga, one of the few top flight leagues in Europe that allow terracing. If other MLS clubs follow suit it will revolutionise the MLS, there’s already some great atmospheres (and some great pictures getting posted on Ultras UK) but the additional freedom terracing brings, especially with the ‘green light’ Colorado has given the fans in terms of flags / banners etc. will only enhance what is already there.
If only the British authorities were as understanding. Next Tuesday I’m going to Peterboro’ vs Ipswich, and I’m as excited as a kid at Christmas as Peterboro’, as well as being our derby since Norwich’s relegation, is the last club in the top two divisions in England to have terracing. Ooooooooooooooooooooh…..Bouncey bouncey bouncey bouncey, la la lala lala…..
While otherwise wonderful, the main problem I see here is the isolation of the supporters’ area. I know in many circles it’s seen as a positive, but in Chicago the integration of the various degrees of fan intensity is a positive influence for growth and identity. DC also manages it well. During the move to Toyota Park, there was occasional talk about putting the Chicago supporters’ area under the stage canopy behind the goal, but its isolation would have likely been a hindrance to the newly curious, and the added context of the stage area would have only served an underlying opinion that supporters “perform” for the rest of the crowd.
It’s a delicate balance, to be sure, but appropriately managing the real or perceived barrier to supporting the team in particular manners is critical to a culture’s growth, sustenance, and mutual investment.
I think that’s a good point JLM. There’s a danger they are isolated there. Though in this case, it’s more about kickstarting any kind of active support at all, and the limited nature of it might also give it a certain attraction to join. But you’re right, it is rather limiting in an important way.
Can’t comment on the specifics, never having been to the Dick but it does seem like the FO is taking measures to both improve the game day atmosphere and resolve some fractious supporter group/Joe Q Citizen interactions leading to confrontations with security, IIRC from reading accounts on Big Soccer, etc.
I think this is a good idea. I have seen sections like this added before and that section quickly became known for being the loudest, craziest section in the whole stadium. The fans here embraced that role and it really added a lot to the stadium.
I also think it’s good for Colorado in the near-term. But long-range it could create such ingrained impressions that a substantial divide could develop.
There’s not really a solution or anything, depends on the context. Something to be aware of.
JLM – as this will not be fixed stand, we can treat this as a test. In the short term it might fill up fast enough to make the club authorities think of making it more part of the stadium. Hopefully they also also aware of what you pointed out.
Theres a reason why terraces are banned in englands top 2 leagues, it’s called the Hillsbrough Disaster, overcrowding resulted in the death of 96 fans. Without seating you can’t know if the stand is overcrowding until it’s to late. In big sellout matches (like the Hillsbrough was a FA cup semi final) people will try try it on and sneak in (it’s possible i used to do it when i was 16 at Leeds United and you wouldn’t believe how many police officers were there) plus any problems with ticketing and too many fans might turn up. I remember when Leeds scored the crowd went absolutley wild and when they were jumping around you started to move down and Leeds put metal fence every 5 or so steps down so when you moved down if you didn’t go under it or over it you went into it and that wouldn’t be so fun. In the Kop (Leeds North Stand) people still stand but since there are seats in front of you when you go wild you can’t go forward, so no one can get crushed or injured. the only way i can see terracing been safe is if every row not just every 5 or so row but every row had something fans couldn’t get past live a waist high wall (i know fans can get past that but whos really going to be bothered to climb over 5-10 walls). Anyway i’d rather sit than people die unless theres a safe way not to stand. btw you need to start learning to name football/soccer the way Europeans name. Don’t call your stadium Dick’s Sporting Good Park or after any sponsor not only is that rediculious (I mean that’s just asking for a piss take by opposing fans) it takes away any prestigious of where you play, i mean when you say to Leeds fans Elland Road it brings back memorys, say to Newcastle fans St James Park it bring back memorys when you say Dick’s Sporting Good park you think of Commercialism, selling your name for money well it’s just wrong, personally i’d rather play in a 12,000 without a sponsors name on it than a 30,000 with a sponsors name on it.